Response to Hurricane Irma SitRep #16: Cuba

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Sep 28, 2017 - and livelihoods due to Hurricane Irma. The load contains hygiene kits, tarpaulins, kitchen kits, toolkits
Response to Hurricane Irma: Cuba Situation Report No.16. Office of the Resident Coordinator (28/09/2017)

This report is produced by the Office of the Resident Coordinator. It covers the period from 14:00 hrs on September 25th to 12:00 hrs on September 28th. The next report will be issued on 02/10/17.

Highlights   

Granma Newspaper



Roads along the northern coast of Havana and Mayabeque remain partially or totally closed and under repair due to the severe damage caused by Hurricane Irma.



The impact of the hurricane reduced tourist arrivals in September by 50%. More than 5,400 rooms were affected in Varadero, representing 26% of the total rooms available in the city.



In Bolivia Municipality in Ciego de Ávila Province, 99% of schools were damaged by the hurricane.



The strong winds of the hurricane caused severe damage to the ecosystem and natural heritage in the forests of Jobo Rosado, Topes de Collantes, and Banao, in Central Cuba. It is estimated that the restoration of biodiversity will be a complex and lengthy process.

United Nations Office of the Resident Coordinator www.onu.org.cu

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Situation overview Due to the magnitude of the damage caused by Hurricane Irma, the assessment of its impacts continues. Preliminary information confirms that the most damaged sectors are housing, agriculture, water and sanitation, energy, education, and health, mainly in the Central and Western Regions of the country. In the affected territories, actions continue to be taken to improve sanitation, provide water and food, provide temporary facilities for victims, and control the epidemiological situation in order to prevent the emergence of diseases. National authorities have set up a bank account in Cuban pesos (CUP) and another in Cuban convertible pesos (CUC) to receive donations from the Cuban population in support of hurricane victims. The account number in Cuban pesos is 0598770001459913 and in convertible pesos is 0598770000989221. Deposits can be made at any bank in the country.

Humanitarian Response National Authorities The Vice President of the Council of State and Ministers, Ramiro Valdés Menéndez, and national authorities from the Ministries of Construction, Energy and Mines and Water Resources are traveling through affected areas and speaking with victims of the hurricane in Camagüey Province. The President of the National Defense Council confirmed the impacts to housing, agriculture, and basic services as well as the recovery efforts in Las Tunas Province. The Provincial Defense Council in Camagüey is supporting the sale of some 20 reasonably-priced food products through the ration card for the population of Esmeralda, Nuevitas, Sierra de Cubitas, and Minas Municipalities, the most impacted in Camagüey.

International Cooperation Humanitarian aid from Panama arrived in Cuba as part of international support for the country’s recovery. The shipment contains mattresses, sheets, towels, blankets, and toilet modules, among other basic necessities for affected families. A Red Cross humanitarian relief load arrived in Cuba and will support thousands of people who lost their homes and livelihoods due to Hurricane Irma. The load contains hygiene kits, tarpaulins, kitchen kits, toolkits, buckets, jerrycans, mosquito nets, and water purification tablets. The Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation reports that it will send a shipment of 1,200 tons of humanitarian aid to help mitigate the damage caused by Hurricane Irma.

*Note: All the information in this report has been taken from Cuban official media (TV, radio, and press) and statements from Cuban authorities. Sources: Newspapers Periódicos Granma, Juventud Rebelde, Vanguardia, Invasor, Adelante, Periódico 26, Ahora, Sierra Maestra y Venceremos. Radio: Radio Habana Cuba, Radio Angulo, Radio Mambí; Press agencies: Prensa Latina (PL) y Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN); Web sites: Cubadebate. Supplementary data has been taken from the National Statistics Office website. United Nations Office of the Resident Coordinator www.onu.org.cu

Sectors Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Damage  In Villa Clara Province, the most affected municipalities of Caibarién, Remedios, Encrucijada, Camajuaní, Sagua la Grande, Quemado de Güines, and Corralillo are still undergoing recovery. Response  Sanitation works continue throughout the municipality of Sierra de Cubitas in Camaguey Province as part of the recovery phase.  In the Ciego de Ávila Province, toiletries are widely available in all units of commerce. Bathing and washing soaps, toothpaste tubes, floor cleaning clothes, and detergent are available in warehouses, according to the provincial Directorate of Commerce.  After more than two weeks of intense recovery work, the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant has been partially synchronized with the National Electroenergetic System, key to the pumping of water in different areas in Matanzas and Villa Clara Provinces.  According to the national media, Sancti Spíritus has the best conditions from a hydraulic infrastructure point of view. UNICEF  UNICEF continues to contribute to the prevention of diarrheic, waterborne and vector-borne illnesses in the communities and schools most affected by Hurricane Irma through the provision of water purification tablets that ensure water quality in Caibarién Municipality in Villa Clara Province.  In addition to the delivery of 2,772,000 chlorine water purification tablets as part of UNICEF’s immediate response, a second delivery of three million tablets for families in Camajuaní Municipality in Villa Clara Province is expected.  In order to satisfy the safe water storage needs in Caibarién and Camajuaní Municipalities, the purchase of 60,196 10-liter collapsible tanks is underway.  Using regional emergency funds and Emergency Program Funds, more than five million water purification tablets are being bought for Esmeralda, Sierra de Cubitas, and Minas Municipalities in Camagüey Province. Moreover, 28,757 collapsible tanks for 28,000 families and 2,700 basic hygiene kits (each covering 10 families), are being purchased for affected populations in these territories. UNDP  In the United Nations Action Plan in response to Hurricane Irma, UNDP presented a proposal focused in seven municipalities in Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, and Ciego de Ávila Provinces to improve access to safe water and promote good hygiene practices at the community level. UNIDO  UNIDO presented a proposal in the United Nations Action Plan in response to Hurricane Irma to support the use of renewable energy sources for the pumping of water in seven municipalities in Villa Clara and Sancti Spíritus Provinces. PAHO/WHO  To prevent epidemiological outbreaks of waterborne and vector-borne illnesses, PAHO/WHO presented a proposal to support the monitoring of water quality and epidemiological surveillance in 27 affected municipalities in the United Nations Action Plan in response to hurricane Irma.

Food Security and Nutrition Damage  Damage to the poultry sector, especially in those territories with the most significant egg supply, has led to a limited availability of this product. As a result, the sale of eggs in private markets has stopped. This is particularly challenging as eggs traditionally represent one of the most affordable sources of protein for the daily diet of the Cuban population.

United Nations Office of the Resident Coordinator www.onu.org.cu

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Infrastructure for food processing related to fishery, meat, dairy, and beverage facilities was affected. The most significant damage was reported along the northern coast in the Central Provinces, from Camagüey to Mayabeque, mostly as a loss of roofing. Over 200 bakeries were also affected. One of the country's most important agro-business companies, La Cuba, located in Ciego de Ávila, reported losses of an estimated 22 million Cuban pesos.

Response     

The sale of food (dairy products, sausages, canned goods, sweets, and cookies) at affordable prices continues in the affected provinces as part of the State-provided ration booklet (“libreta de abastecimiento”). Measures are in place to ensure strict control, monitoring, and penalties for price gouging or speculation. Ninety-five percent of existing bakeries in the country are operational. The National Insurance Company has already compensated the first losses in the agricultural sector and is updating its loss registry to accelerate the delivery of funds. Work is ongoing to restore the affected areas and to plant short-cycle crops. Harvesting is also advancing swiftly in coffee plantations that were damaged.

FAO:  

FAO is continuing to reach out to the donor community to mobilize the resources needed to complement the US$300,000 already secured by the Government of Belgium. This funding will allow for the restoration of the production of the foods most required by the population as well as the rehabilitation of infrastructure. In coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Food Industry and Fisheries, FAO is following up on the updating of the damage assessment to continue assessing immediate and mediumterm needs.

WFP: 

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The delivery of WFP-donated food (rice and beans) to about 56,000 beneficiaries started in Yaguajay Municipality in Sancti Spíritus Province. This process will continue in the coming days in other municipalities of target provinces (Camagüey, Ciego de Ávila, Matanzas, and Villa Clara) as food distribution advances. These food commodities, complementing the government assistance, will support over 647,000 people, of which nearly 225,000 are included in vulnerable groups, such as children under five years of age, schoolaged children, the elderly, and pregnant and lactating women. With US$1.5 million from its immediate emergency response fund, WFP will provide 20 days of food assistance. Moreover, contributions from the Governments of Italy (EUR 300,000) and Canada (C$250,000) were confirmed to support WFP’s response operation. WFP continues to coordinate and communicate with the donor community, with the support of its Regional Office and Headquarters, to mobilize the remaining US$3.7 million needed to provide rations for four months.

Shelter and Early Recovery Damage: 

According to updated figures of homes damaged in Sancti Spíritus, Camagüey, and Las Tunas Provinces, the estimated total of damaged homes from Havana to Guantanamo is now over 138,000 (see Annex on Current data on housing damaged by Hurricane Irma).

ENVIRONMENT Sancti Spíritus   

While a full assessment is still underway, preliminary appraisals indicate that the most damage was sustained in two protected areas, Jobo Rosado and Caguanes National Park, in Yaguajay. In Caguanes, some 4,000 hectares of mangroves, considered among the best in Cuba, were destroyed. In the municipalities of northern and central Cuba, 178,273 cubic meters of solid waste have been collected.

United Nations Office of the Resident Coordinator www.onu.org.cu

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UNDP  In support of recovery efforts, 6,395 tarpaulins arrived in Cuba and will be distributed among affected families with 2,520 mattresses arriving later this week. IOM  

IOM is purchasing mattress and sheets with its own funds to be delivered to people who are still evacuated in shelters or living with family and/or friends. Concept notes are being developed to mobilize funds for further early recovery response activities.

Health Damage:  The Ministry of Health is carrying out an evaluation in order to define the number of institutions that are still recovering and reported that 969 health institutions had significant damage as follows: 30 national facilities (including 6 medical sciences universities) and 939 provincial health institutions including 68 hospitals, 124 basic health care centers, 86 social institutions (maternity care centers, nursing homes, senior care centers, etc.), 364 Family Doctor's Offices, 150 pharmacies, and 147 corresponding to other categories (such as stomatology clinics, blood banks, opticians, warehouses, local medication production centers, and workshops)  In Havana, the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital remains impacted and unable to provide 100% of the assistance required.  In Ciego de Ávila, the Máximo Gomez Municipal Basic Health Care Center remains operational through the use of a generator, however, reports damage to X-ray services and the rehabilitation room.  The Morón General Municipal Hospital reports damage to five of its elective surgery rooms and the delivery and caesarean rooms of its obstetrics and gynecology hospital.  In Camagüey, the Narciso Pérez Municipal Basic Health Care Center is currently providing services in the kitchen and dining area. X-ray services are provided with portable X-ray equipment.  A total of 73 doctor's offices in Mayabeque, Matanzas, Havana, Villa Clara, Ciego de Ávila, Camagüey, and Holguín Provinces have been relocated to other locations.  No epidemic outbreaks have been reported as a result of the hurricane. Response:  At the community level, health promotion activities are being reinforced to increase the perception of health risks associated with waterborne and vector-borne diseases (such as arbovirosis and leptospirosis) and hemorrhagic conjunctivitis.  Epidemiological surveillance and the control of the Aedes aegypti mosquito in urban centers has been strengthened.  Water quality assessments are being carried out the distribution points of water tank trucks.  The Ministry of Health is ensuring appropriate support for the replacement of eyeglasses, dental prostheses, and medications for diabetes, blood pressure, asthma, and other conditions, as well as the need for psychological support.  Several cultural brigades composed of musicians, theater actors, magicians, clowns, and animators are providing recreational activities, with the support of electric generators, to the communities of Laredo, Isabela de Sagua, Carahatas, Encrucijada, and Caibarién in Villa Clara Province.  Follow-up to people with mental health conditions already treated prior to the hurricane is being provided. Identified Needs:  In coordination with the Ministry of Health, demands for first-line medications have been identified, including oral rehydration salts, emergency kits, Doxycycline, water treatment tablets, tests to determine levels of residual chlorine, calcium hypochlorite for disinfection, and tests for the diagnosis of cholera, malaria and E. coli as well as medical supplies and equipment, medical and non-medical furniture, and surface cleaning kits.  Oxygen tanks and regulators (manometers) as well as supplies for protecting against vector-borne diseases, such as insecticide-impregnated nets and Temephos 1% (Abate), have also been prioritized.

United Nations Office of the Resident Coordinator www.onu.org.cu

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PAHO/WHO  A meeting was held with the National Mental Health Coordinator from the Ministry of Health to identify activities in the communities of the affected municipalities in relation to mental health promotion (the identification of municipalities is currently pending).  The arrival of five containers from the NGO Global Link is expected. The containers contain equipment and supplies to be distributed to the December 26 Teaching Hospital in Remedios, Villa Clara; the Joaquín Paneca Consuegra General Teaching Hospital in Yagüajay, Sancti Spíritus; the Roberto Rodríguez Hospital in Morón, Ciego de Ávila; the Octavio de la Concepción y la Pedraja Hospital in Baracoa, Guantánamo; and the Martín Chang Puga General Hospital in Nuevitas, Camagüey.  PAHO/WHO is in the process of purchasing US$200,000 of 500,000 Doxycycline tablets, 40 tons of Temephos 1%, and products for water quality control and treatment at health institutions.  The arrival of emergency medicine kits (IEHK) is expected. The kits will cover the needs of 60,000 people for three months in prioritized affected areas.  Daily coordination is being maintained among the PAHO Technical Team in Cuba, the Emergency Operations Center at PAHO Headquarters, and the Head of the National Defense and Civil Defense of the Ministry of Health in order to follow up on the emergency response and the prioritization of damage.  Licentiate Virginia Vanesa Herzig Arriaza, PAHO/WHO consultant for the emergency health program in Guatemala, continues to support the national WHO Cuba Technical Team in response to the emergency, the foreseen purchases in the CERF, and the exchanges with EOC.  The effort to mobilize resources is ongoing in accordance with the needs identified in the action plan. UNFPA  UNFPA estimates that the 37 SSR Kits purchased with emergency funds could reach Cuba by air by the end of next week.  UNFPA is in the process of assessing the possible purchase of kits and obstetric equipment that could be acquired with the C$150,000 donation from the Government of Canada.

Education Damage:  In Ciego de Avila Province, Hurricane Irma caused damage to 260 educational centers out of a total of 371. Currently, the Provincial Department of Education reports that 202 centers are still in need of repair.  Educational centers in Bolivia Municipality were the most affected in the Ciego de Avila Province with damage to 99 percent of centers.  There are currently eight schools still used as evacuation centers in Ciego de Avila.  According to local authorities, 526 schools were affected in Havana.  Several educational centers in the city of Matanzas and Cárdenas and Martí Municipalities in Matanzas Province remain in the recovery phase.  Damage to infrastructure in many of the educational centers in Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila, and Camagüey Provinces remains. Response:  Measures have been adopted in the different levels of education, such as alternating morning and afternoon classes, and boarding school students have been relocated to other school educational centers near their homes.  The Central University Marta Abreu in Santa Clara Municipality in Las Villas Province will resume classes after intense rehabilitation work undertaken by students and teachers. UNICEF  UNICEF is purchasing 188 Early Childhood Kits, 123 School in a Box Kits, and 227 Recreational and Dynamic Kits to facilitate educational activities in schools and daycare centers in Nuevitas, Sierra de Cubitas, and Esmeralda Municipalities in Camagüey Province. Their arrival is expected in the coming weeks.  In Villa Clara and Sancti Spíritus Provinces, UNICEF support is provided through the purchase of US $289,416 in educational and recreational materials for 25,169 girls, 27,058 children, and 2,600 teachers.  In line with the needs identified by the Ministry of Education, UNICEF is working to support for the waterproofing of more than 100,000 m² of roofing and the replacement of carpentry in at least 80 schools in

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order to support the rapid return 35,078 girls and 41,624 children to school in Villa Clara, Ciego de Ávila, and Havana Provinces. The purchase of US $60,000 of materials for the immediate waterproofing of 11,000 m² of roofing for schools located in Villa Clara Provinces is in the bidding process.

UNESCO:  UNESCO will focus its support on ensuring socio-emotional post-disaster support for children and adolescents, with the participation of families and the community, in the 27 most affected municipalities.

Logistics Damage  Damage to facilities within in the wholesale collection system of farming products, as well as storage and transportation infrastructure for inputs, food and other key products, primarily to facilities’ roofing, is still being assessed. Camagüey, Ciego de Ávila, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, Sancti Spíritus and Villa Clara Provinces were among the most affected (see Annex on preliminary damage information in Situation Report 14). Response:  Maintenance work on harbors, roads and warehouse infrastructure continues.  Abel Santamaría International Airport in Villa Clara Province has resumed operations. WFP  

The process of assembling the fifth mobile storage unit (MSU) is being planned, in order to supplement the other four units already assembled and in use in Ciego de Ávila and Villa Clara Provinces. These MSUs are part of WFP’s response to support food storage and protection (see Situation Report 14). Resources have been mobilized to purchase other MSUs with the support of the WFP Regional Office and Headquarters in Rome.

General Coordination The United Nations System Action Plan in Response to Hurricane Irma aims to mobilize US$55.8 million to address the urgent needs of 2.15 million people. Presented at the United Nations Headquarters in Havana on 19 September, this Plan was developed in close coordination with Cuban institutions and includes an immediate response phase and early recovery support for a period of 6 to 18 months. Plan of Action, UN System in Cuba: English: http://onu.org.cu/files/files/CUB_ActionPlan_ENG_20170918_4.pdf Spanish: http://onu.org.cu/files/files/CUB_ActionPlan_ESP_20170918_4.pdf

United Nations Office of the Resident Coordinator www.onu.org.cu

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Access link to previous situation reports:

Situation Report No. 1 Situation Report No. 2 Situation Report No. 3 Situation Report No. 4 Situation Report No. 5 Situation Report No. 6 Situation Report No. 7 Situation Report No. 8 Situation Report No. 9 Situation Report No. 10 Situation Report No. 11 Situation Report No. 12 Situation Report No. 13 Situation Report No. 14 Situation Report No.15

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Annex Shelter and Early Recovery Current data on housing damaged by Irma: Province

Households

Roof

Municipalities

La Habana*

6,450 damaged, including 157 collapsed, 986 partially collapsed

818 with collapsed roofs and 1,555 with partially collapsed roofs

Mayabeque

1,450 damaged

Matanzas

2,800 damaged, collapsed

including

200

Cienfuegos

574 damaged, collapsed

including

130

Villa Clara

More than 49,000 damaged, including 1,657 collapsed

Santa Clara, Sagua la Grande, Corralillo, Quemado de Güines, Encrucijada, Camajuaní, Remedios, and Caibarién

Sancti Spíritus

17,180 houses damaged, including 1,661 collapsed

Damage reported in eight municipalities with the most severe damage in Yaguajay and Sancti Spíritus

Ciego de Ávila

More than 16,000 damaged

Bolivia: 95% of housing damaged

Camagüey

33,000 houses damaged, 2,886 collapsed, and more than 1,376 partially collapsed

Las Tunas

4,151 houses damaged, 199 collapsed, and 445 partially collapsed

Holguín

4,006 houses damaged, including 174 collapsed

Gibara, Antilla, Holguín, and Banes

Guantánamo

875 houses damaged, including 73 collapsed

Baracoa, Maisí, San Antonio del Sur, Yateras, and Caimanera

All 15 municipalities in capital city

Cárdenas, Martí, and Matanzas

2,500 roofs damaged

Esmeralda, Sierra de Cubitas, and Nuevitas

430 with collapsed roofs and 2,833 with partially collapsed roofs

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Health Total of damaged institutions in the structure PROVINCE

Hospitals

Basic health care centers

FD Os

Pharmacies

Pinar del Rio

Social Institutions

Others

1

Artemisa

2

2

1

Havana

25

33

22

Mayabeque

2

4

Matanzas

3

Villa Clara

Total 1

1

1

7

3

20

19

122

8

3

0

4

21

5

2

2

1

3

16

11

27

121

43

19

46

267

Cienfuegos

2

2

8

9

2

3

26

Sancti Spiritus

3

13

28

24

3

9

80

Ciego de Ávila

3

16

93

32

15

15

174

Camagüey

9

17

53

18

18

33

148

Las Tunas

1

2

5

0

4

8

20

Holguin

7

3

18

15

3

6

52

Granma

0

0

1

0

0

0

1

Guantánamo

0

0

4

0

0

0

4

Subtotal provinces

68

124

364

150

86

147

939

NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

24

MEDICAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITIES

6

TOTAL

969

For further information, please contact: Katherine Muller-Marin, Resident Coordinator a.i., UN System in Cuba, [email protected], Tel: +53 7 204 1492 Liudmila Curbelo, Coordination Officer, UN System in Cuba, [email protected], Tel: +53 7 204 1513 For further information, please visit: www.unocha.org, www.reliefweb.int, www.redhum.org, www.onu.org.cu. For further information, please visit: Instituto de Meteorología de Cuba: http://www.met.inf.cu Granma: http://www.granma.cu Juventud Rebelde: http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/ Agencia Cubana de Noticias: http://www.acn.cu/ Cubadebate: http://www.cubadebate.cu To be added to or removed from the distribution list, please write to: [email protected]

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